Cognitive Debt: The New Frontier in AI Development

research#agent📝 Blog|Analyzed: Feb 15, 2026 05:31
Published: Feb 15, 2026 05:20
1 min read
Simon Willison

Analysis

This article beautifully highlights the crucial concept of 'cognitive debt' in the age of rapid AI advancements, particularly with 生成式人工智能 (Generative AI) and 智能体 (Agent) technologies. It emphasizes the importance of understanding not just technical aspects but also the human element involved in AI development, such as the collective understanding of design decisions. This is an exciting shift in focus, revealing the need to prioritize clarity and shared knowledge within development teams.
Reference / Citation
View Original
"The code might have been messy, but the bigger issue was that the theory of the system, their shared understanding, had fragmented or disappeared entirely."
S
Simon WillisonFeb 15, 2026 05:20
* Cited for critical analysis under Article 32.